Video Podcast Chapters
As you may well know, we’ve included chapter selection within our enhanced weekly audio shows since day one, to allow for easy navigation of lengthy episodes. At times this has caused a bit of confusion because it means we’re putting out two versions of every show, one in MP3 format for the majority of listeners and an enhanced version in AAC format for anyone with an iPod or iTunes.
Although this approach does create a bit of extra work, we’ve always figured it to be worth it, in order to benefit from the additional interactivity the enhanced format provides (along with chapters, we also add images and website links). The feeds page details the various options for downloading both versions, as well as how to subscribe to our video podcasts, and it’s these that I’m keen to talk more about today.
It’s possible to add chapter markers to video episodes too, although we couldn’t really see the point when shows rarely stretch beyond the 6 minute mark, especially given that chapter navigation wasn’t particularly user friendly either. That all changed though, with the release of an update in February to Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch (or iTouch as I prefer it) firmware.
We’ve talked about how good the iTouch is for viewing widescreen video podcasts before, but this software update added something unique - a chapter guide:
Now we had a reason to add markers to our videos.
The above screenshot is displaying a list from a recent Inside Track video. Not only can we set the marker name, but it’s also possible to specify a cute little thumbnail to represent each one too. The touch interface makes jumping between each section a snap but they also appear within iTunes if you don’t have such a device to hand.
We’ve actually been doing this since the beginning of the season, essentially it’s exactly the same thing we’ve always done for audio shows, and just like the audio episodes, none of the advantages are visible on this website. You have to subscribe to get the full functionality, but hopefully we can get that sorted soon.
I’m relatively confident that I am the only person in the world excited about this, but if you’ve ever found it useful, or if you think we’re wasting our time, please do let us know.
May 5th, 2008 at 6:43 pmSteveintheUK said:
Finally someone else that calls the iPod Touch just plan old iTouch. Now when the price drop to a level that I can afford to drop (that’s as in drop physically on the floor and break) and not stress out to much about it then I may treat myself to one.
I love these little chapter markers, it makes it so much quicker to prove to my dad that he was wrong about something when I came just jump to the chapter that proves me right, or skip the chapter that proves him right.
So Christine, how long have you been calling yourself a
I’m not disagreeing with you, just wonder how I missed that new choose of nickname, SidePodCast hosted by ‘Cute Little Thumbnail’ and ‘me’.
I haven’t been on here for over a week, so has ‘me’ finally sorted out his nickname yet? or can we just stick to calling him ‘me’?
Hope your having/had a great bank holiday, spent most of mine helping friends move.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:11 pmlou said:
Im excited! probably because the new updates in addition to the picture you have included in the post make me want to go out and buy an iTouch. My current ipod is one of the old 30GB ipod videos, and just recently it has begun the long and painful process of dying. I can now only hear sound through one ear. It is the same with any pair of headphones/ earphones i try, and no its not my ears
. i have been putting off the inevitable of truddling all the way up to my nearest apple shop (a good drive away) to see what they can do.
i would love to know how much storage your iTouch has and is it enough? I am trying to figure out which iTouch i would need to get (to get an idea of the price). Maybe a post exam treat
May 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pmme said:
16gb and it’s plenty big enough for my 5 podcasts. sadly nowhere near big enough for christine’s collection.
so i guess it depends how much you listen too.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:30 pmChristine said:
5 podcasts!?
Hmm, definitely not enough for me.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:38 pmlou said:
5 podcasts? I have a tendancy to save my podcasts so they build up, so i can listen/watch them as many times as i like. i also have alot of music….its gonna have to be the 32GB i think……how to break this to the parents….
Thanks for your help!
May 5th, 2008 at 8:08 pmRich said:
I also think it is exciting! I wonder what that makes us? This is one of several features that I like iTunes for. Do you do the final podcast production on the Mac or what? I have used Garage Band - but Apple SA are going to let us have on loan a couple of servers with Podcast Producer - it will be interesting to see how efficient this approach is. Finally still contemplating getting an iPod Touch.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:30 pmRich said:
I think Christine and I have the same problem - we want too many podcasts on our iPods. I decided that I probably need the 32 GB version - a friend of my has one and I am slightly jealous - only slightly (as my whole body turns green). So Lou if you are anything like us two you we need the capacity. If you are like Me and only subscribe to 5 podcasts 16 GB is fine.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:31 pmme said:
video’s are made using final cut, we’re trying really hard to do a behind the scenes on the creation because no-one believes they take 30hrs to make
love to know what you think of podcast producer. my experience of mac servers is they’re bloomin’ noisy… as in jet-takeoff noisy, but they might’ve improved that by now.
do let us know how it goes. also can we hear anything you guys are creating?
May 5th, 2008 at 8:46 pmlou said:
Thanks Rich!
May 5th, 2008 at 9:47 pmlou said:
on the subject of video podcasts has anyone seen Maurice Hamilton’s new (video) podcast in which he just promots his new book (Chequered Conflict)?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:09 pmme said:
nope! do you have a link?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:16 pmme said:
oh wait, i see it now, part of his usual feed.
that is bloody awful isn’t it? why sit in front of a window like that, could they not afford any lights? bad, bad, bad.
stuff like that makes me very depressed
May 5th, 2008 at 10:32 pmlou said:
I could not belive they included it as his normal feed. The whole video upset me. I hated the fact tat even when he was not talking about his book directly they had squeezed it into shot! ergh! Why did he not just hold it up against his face as he talked, that way we could not miss it! :S *grumble grumble grumble*
May 5th, 2008 at 10:37 pmAlex Andronov said:
I don’t understand why people want an iTouch particularly. I had to have an iPhone and have loved it ever since I got it. And with the updates this summer it will be even more amazing. But most people I know have mobile phone contracts at almost the same level as the iPhone and want an iTouch but not to replace their phone. I just don’t get it. No speaker, no calls, but most importantly no internet outside the wifi hotspots. Please explain!
May 5th, 2008 at 10:51 pmRich said:
I can say in SA we don’t have the opportunity to use an iPhone - sure you can unblock it and hope you never accidentally attempt an update otherwise it gets bricked. The iTouch also has more capacity for storing podcasts for people like me and Christine and (at least in SA) is hugely cheaper to purchase.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:06 pmme said:
i don’t have, and don’t want a mobile phone contract… especially now that we live in a skype world.
i would pay up for a 3d data contract, as we’re currently paying for a laptop 3g modem anyhow, but at the moment gprs / edge is no use to me.
May 6th, 2008 at 1:42 amSteveintheUK said:
No Sorry, Apple Server’s still sound like jets taking off when ever you start to use them, keeping only the main system/Apps on the internal and using Firewire external driver for main storage helps to keep the internal temp down and reduces the noise a little bit, but it is a server, and server are meant to be hidden away. Just connect to it via Gigabit ethernet and you will be able to use FCP on your main mac with the file stored on the file.
Drobo’s are great for making backup copies, but are way to noise to be kept in the same room that you record audio/video in so keep them attached to the server and hidden away. Drobo’s are also way to slow to use as either a main recording or editing storage device, Backup’s only with Drobo’s.
As for the iPhone
I have a pay-as-you-go mobile with basic internet access, but would get a 3G modem to use with a laptop once I workout how to get Vista of the laptop I have just be lent.
@’me’ When you travelled to Ikea MK and you used the 3G modem then, how did you find it? was the speed usable?
May 6th, 2008 at 2:33 ambrendan stallard said:
“Now when the price drop to a level that I can afford to drop”
Steve,
The have ‘em round the road in Best Buy for
8 gig $299
16 gig $399
32 gig $499
http://tinyurl.com/6dne6z
How does that compare to the UK price?
brendan
May 6th, 2008 at 3:31 amme said:
yup, perfect even at 70mph. it has issues with FTP and SMTP though. methinks the service has been knobbled somewhat.
biggest problem we’ve had, was the other week we took it to spain and it burned through £10 worth of credit in less than 5mins. it would’ve been cheaper to fly home, use broadband, fly back again.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:19 amRich said:
Thanks Steve… what you have said either has been done or is being done.
Not having experience of them I would not know, but servers generally are best hidden. I have my own dedicated server room with two AC units (main and back-up) - heat build up is our number one issue - if we get the Mac servers they will be housed there and we will use a movable MiniMac client with camera for recording the podcast. The idea is for our lectures to be recorded as a podcast and imediately processed to make available to students. We offered to be guinea pigs as our faculty wants permanent records of all lectures given by all staff. We are going to have to upgrade some of our LAN connections though (my entire unit and all departmental student labs are covered by one large wireless hotspot - 180 points).
We recently replaced our aged SAN with a Networked Drobo drive to act as the central image archive for our NASA MODIS imagery for Southern Africa dating back to 2000.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:00 pmDevil said:
Shameless plug for the forum that indulges my passion for all things Apple - MacTalk
Don’t judge the funsters there by their podcast - they consume alcohol as they record.
@me and Christine: if you ever want to run a full on SidePodcast forum, talk to the admin ‘Currawong’ (Amos) - he is a genius.
@Rich: the owner, ‘Decryption’ (Anthony) used to work at a Uni in Melbourne - something to do with recording lectures/podcasting.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:55 pmbrendan stallard said:
“that is bloody awful isn’t it?”
Me,
I never saw the video: thanks be, the audio was depressing enough. I used to quite like Maurice Hamilton, but that made me puke.
brendan